Match-safe.



-No. 672,545. Patented Apr. 23, 190:.- T. A. BELL.

MATCH SAFE.

{Application filed Feb. 14; 1900.)

(No Model.)

Wi'fgcsscls 108691 rjlllon cys mdgw.

NITED STATES THOMAS ADDISON BELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,545, dated April23, 1901.

Application filed February 14, 1900. Serial No. 5,168. tNo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ADDISON BELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Match-Safe, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to match-safes, and particularly to that classcarried in the pocket; and the object of the same is to provide simpleand effective means for igniting the ful minate of a match during thewithdrawal of the same from the safe and without danger of igniting theremaining matches therein, and thereby conveniently facilitate theoperation sought without soiling the exterior of the safe, as inordinary structures, or resorting to awkward means for igniting a match,and, furthermore, shield the lighted match in a material manner, so thatit can be used in the wind.

The invention consists in the construction andarrangement of the severalparts, more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a match-safepartially broken away to show one form of the improved strikingattachment and as carried by the snap-spring for holding the lid orcover closed. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the safe asshown by Fig. 1 with the lid or cover partially open. Fig. 3 is a planView of the blank from which the snap-spring and improved striker areformed. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the improved matchstriker or igniter in the form used in safes without the snap-spring forthe cover.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates the body of a match-safe,which may be of anyother contour or shape than that shown and supplied with a hinged lid orcover 2, which, as shown in Fig. 1, is held closed by a spring-snap 3,adapted to engage a bead or lip 4 in the lid or cover and hold thelatter in closed engagement with the body 1 until regularly opened.

As shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the'improved igniting or match-strikingattachment is carried by or forms a part of the snap-spring 3, thelatter having a shank P, which is riveted or otherwise attached to theupper portion of the front end of the body 1 and is formed with an upperbent end 5 to look over the bead or lip 4 of the lid or cover andoperated by a headed pin or stud 6, as clearly shown by Fig. 2. Theupper part of the shank 4:, as shown by Fig. 3, is preferably formedwith curved wings 7, which are bent into V shape relatively to the shank4 and similar to another single form, as shown by Fig. 4 and which willbe presently set forth. The inner surface of each wing 7 and theadjacent part of the shank 4; is

roughened, as at 8, and said parts may have applied thereto a piece ofsandpaper or analogous material for creating enough friction to ignite amatch drawn thereagainst. Instead of making the wings 7 integral withthe shank 4. the striking attachment, as shown by Fig. 4, can readily beattached to the ordinary straight shank now used in match-safes, andthereby make the improved device readily applicable to common forms ofmatch-safes or the stock for the same which has already beenmanufactured in shape and without requiring the additional expense thatwould be necessary to replace the common form of springshank with thedevice shown by Fig. 3. In the primary manufacture of the spring-shank,however, it will be found much cheaper to produce the shank and theattachment from a single blank, as shown by Fig. 3.

In operating the improved attachment as thus far described the fulminateend of the match is drawn upwardly through and crowded into the V-shapedattachment, and the friction resulting from such operation will quicklycause ignition of the match, it being understood that the attachmentshown by Fig. 4 will have an inner roughened surface, as clearlyillustrated.

In the use of the attachment shown and described the ignited match canbe materially shielded from surrounding drafts of wind, and thus usedwith more certainty, and which can be accomplished by slightly raisingthe lid or cover, and thereby providing a protective chamber.Furthermore,soiling of the exterior of the box by striking the matchthereon, as in ordinary structures, is obviated, and it will also beobserved that if it is not desired to ignite the match when removing thesame from the body 1 the match can be removed from the box withoutengagement with the striking attachment.

Changes in the size, form, proportions, and minor details may beresorted to without in the least departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Amatch-safe having a containing-body and an upper hinged lid or cover ofordinary form, and a snap or looking spring for the lid or cover securedwithin the body and dis posed vertically, the said snap or lookingspring having an igniting device of V-shaped form comprising verticallyarranged wings converging toward the snap or spring and having innerroughened faces, the said igniting device being wholly within theconfines of the body of the safe, and constituting the sole ignitingmeans therefor, the upper outlet end of the body being Wholly clear forthe unobstructed removal of the matches which are ignited at the time ofwithdrawal from the body independent of any function of the lid orcover.

2. A match-safe having a striking or igniting attachment within the bodythereof and forming an integral part of the snap-spring for the lid orcover and comprising two wings bentintoV shape and having inner opposingroughened surfaces, the diverged portion of the attachment standinginnermost to form an opening in a plane parallel with the spring,theattachment being located wholly within the bodyof the box and in avertical position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS ADDISON BELL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. CLYDE WALL, OHAs. H. KInsEY.

